Creating a code of professional conduct

Emergency nurse Cindy Hill* heard a loud thumping noise coming from the ICU runs. She was monitoring the front desk in the early morning hours, so she headed back to the treatment area to check on her patients. There she saw the overnight doctor, with a large textbook under his arm, leaving one of the runs.

Code of Professional Conduct

"What's going on?" she asked. Dr. Mason* was looking a little red-faced and nervous as he said, "Wilson just keeps whining, so I went in there to see if I could quiet him down." Hill knew Dr. Mason had stepped over the line—he'd relied upon physical strength to subdue the animal.

That a licensed veterinarian had been beating one of his patients on the head with a heavy book seems like a bad dream. But, no, this nightmare really happened, and it wasn't the first time one of our doctors had transgressed into an area that was far beyond the edge of professional conduct. This doctor doesn't work for us anymore, but the question remained: How could this have happened?

Our emergency hospital has a comprehensive employee manual that clearly outlines expectations of employees, but when we wrote it, we never imagined physical abuse of patients. We had failed to address such core ethical issues as lying, cheating, and stealing, so staff members could steal medications or lie to a client without being in violation of their employment agreement.

We decided to make some changes. This incident prompted our management team to create a Code of Professional Conduct. (See sample.)

We based the code on positive core values—honesty, respect, consideration, and patient care, and we addressed possible scenarios of unethical behavior, however unimaginable. We ask all new hires to read and sign it, and the code clearly states that violations can be grounds for immediate termination.

This code allows management to deal swiftly and unemotionally with violations. And staff members understand their role, too; they're asked to report any violations to a member of management in writing.

Two advantages: A code of conduct applies to all staff members, and it addresses some areas of conduct not addressed by the AVMA and state veterinary boards. Gossip is a good example.

Malicious gossip will destroy the morale of a veterinary team. Because our staff members often work unsupervised, they're more prone to idle conversation. But when talk swings to discussions of other staff members, clients, or referring veterinarians who aren't present, a line is crossed.

Head off trouble and lay down the rules. Creating a code of professional conduct for your practice will reassure staff members that they can work in an environment of professionalism, honesty, and respect. And it will help protect patients, clients, team members, and your business.

*All names have been changed to protect individuals' privacy.

Dr. Jon Geller is an emergency veterinarian and a managing member of three emergency clinics in northern Colorado.